The Sunday News
Nkosilathi Sibanda, Sunday News Correspondent
THE country’s tourism and hospitality sector has started preparations for post- Covid-19 activity as the industry gears for a period that is expected to be a game changer, in particular with regards to high standards of hygiene and cleanliness.
Tour destinations and facilities were forced to close from 30 March as Government tightened measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 under the national lockdown.
Players in the industry who spoke to Sunday News said during the lockdown phase, they have been renovating and disinfecting premises while they await Government to guide on when to open doors to tourists.
Established hoteliers, restaurant owners and leisure parks managers revealed they were reeling under loss of revenue caused by low tourist bookings and room occupancy.
Despite the setback, tour and travel businesses in the country have resolved to serve the local tourists first at a time when international travel prospects are doomed.
Of late, some hotels and lodges in Harare and Bulawayo have since opened services but under controlled conditions where clients undergo thorough checks before being accommodated. Already, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZimParks) intensely cleansed and restored the country’s premier tourist attraction, the Victoria Falls in readiness to open.
Last week ZimParks put up top-notch safety and health measures around the Rainforest that include health desk, much to the satisfaction of Government.
Although industry remained in the dark of when it will be allowed to do business, the Minister of Environment, Climate change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Nqobizitha Ndlovu said priority must be on safeguarding the health of visitors.
In an interview on Thursday, Minister Ndlovu said before tourism opens, strict hygienic measures have to be placed at all facilities that entertain tourists.
“It is mandatory that facilities that receive tourists adhere to laid down safety precautions. We have developed guidelines to reopen, but we needed to have very strict guidelines because they are dealing with the public so we don’t want to be conduits for spreading Covid-19,” said the Minister.
In line with maintaining public safety health standards, industry players have crafted guidelines certified by the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
A leading hospitality concern in Bulawayo that operates Standard Hotel and the Continental Hotel is in the lead in fumigating its premises and has installed stringent measures to fight an emergence of Covid-19.
“Before we opened our doors, we had a team of health experts that came in and sanitised our business premises including rooms, dining facilities and the reception area,” said hotel manageress, Miss Jacqueline Mkandla.
Employers’ Association for Tourism and Safari Operators (Eatso) president Mr Clement Mukwasi said the first of reopening must follow all required health measures.
“We have to follow all stipulated guidelines as called for by the World Health Organisation and UNWTO [United Nations World Tourism Organisation]. We have to ensure we take the first steps towards reopening in a safe environment for our visitors,” he said.
As part of efforts to see through an uninterrupted opening of travel, stakeholders have mapped ways on how they will deal with containing the spread of Covid-19.
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority acting chief executive, Mr Givemore Chidzidzi, in an interview on Thursday said they had a meeting with the Ministry of Health and Child Care were tourism businesses assured their commitment to meet all health requirements.
“We are putting the health of our clients first. It is not all about the rush to open but to make sure that we maintain standards that won’t compromise our destinations in light of the effects of Covid-19 locally and worldwide.
“Co-operation is vital for ensuring the sector can effectively contribute to the containment of Covid-19. We are working with all stakeholders to assist in ensuring that health measures are implemented in ways recommended by the Ministry of Health and Child Care”, he said.
Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe (TBCZ) president, Ms Winnie Muchanyuka, said the tourism sector has to focus on the future and build resilience as it charts the way forward.
“The focus is now on the future, how we as the Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe, the ZTA and other partners work together for the betterment of a safer tourism industry. We have to build resilience.”
While excitement might grip the tourism sector, the reopening of destinations, the Ministry of Health and Child Care has maintained that there has to be strict adherence to education, awareness, prevention, surveillance, monitoring and access to health care.
